Six Flags Investment Announcements - Kingda Ka Closing, Six Flags Over Texas New Ride, & A Lot More!

[@guillermonarro2357]

Love the casual format…you ramble on in the best way possible. Looking forward to seeing some slides!

[@chrismercaldo]

Thanks so much! If there are any topics you want to hear me ramble on, let me know!

[@tylerstooksbury3050]

Love the thoughts! Thank you for going through all of these things. It’ll be awesome to see all these things come to life over the next year or so. A giga dive is a perfect fit for Over Texas. 🤠

[@chrismercaldo]

Thanks so much for the love, Tyler! Right? Texas A&M has a "Texas Gig'em" phrase where you also give a thumbs up, think we need to start doing a "Texas Giga" in some of these vids. Even though Fiesta just got a dive machine, I think going over the 300 foot mark could really make the Arlington one a destination/unique ride and attendance driver.

[@Kjphsuubsjf]

Your insight and experience in the industry is unique and IMO was much needed in the community. Really glad you started making videos I’m already a loyal and avid watcher. It doesn’t even need to be news related either in the future when news is slow, I just love hearing stuff about amusement parks and it’s rare to have someone on a platform like this talking about these topics. Also New Yorkers represent (I’m from Queens lol)

[@chrismercaldo]

Thank you so, so much for the kind words here! I’ll definitely keep the content coming and don’t hesitate to comment any topic ideas you want to hear more about! Queens baby, home of the World’s Fair and so many other good things. I think us New Yorkers have a special fondness for theme parks since there are truly none super close to us (GADV and little Adventureland being our best options, but GADV is two bridges and the NJT away)

[@Kjphsuubsjf]

⁠@@chrismercaldo totally agree. I live nearby flushing meadows park. It’s where I go on runs and there’s a credit I never got (yet) with the E&F Miler there and I totally agree with you. My grandparents would take me on the carousel there all the time. It took me a long time to even get on Cyclone and it’s a top 10 ride for me to this day. It’s a shame that the sky ride at GAdv is going cuz I loved the history and knowing that it was part of the Worlds Fair here. Also even though it was technically a rumor, this past weekend at GAdv was just awesome to see. Everyone from the tristate came to say their goodbyes and even the Midwest. I really have never seen a turnout that huge at great adventure from fellow enthusiasts

[@chrismercaldo]

@ So when I was working for Ride Entertainment, the little amusement park (used to be called Fantasy Forest) was built and operated by us! We had won a small RFP to add a few small rides around the Carousel that had been there since the 1964-1965 Fair. Somewhere I have an instruction manual for that coaster (we opened an identical one in Staten Island) and I learned to operate it! Was a wild experience because it’s all manual unlike most coasters that are all sensor driven. You literally have to hold a button to keep the train driving though the station and up the lift and manually stop the train in the station… it requires quite a bit of practice since you need to release the drive knowing the train will glide a few feet before stopping but you need it to lineup with the station. Crazy! Love to hear about (and see) the community outpour love for Ka. She deserved it.

[@tahjo7]

Let it be known, the #1 parks in both chains, pre merger (cedar fair Knotts Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mtn). The #1 park of all of their 42 parks, Knotts Berry Farm, is only getting a damn WATER park "Refresh" and "Aesthetic Enhancements".... Of the 1 Billion dollars over 2 years, that's all that we get?, the #1 most attended park in the portfolio.... To the other parks, you're welcome, we'll be your cash cow for another decade.

[@chrismercaldo]

@@tahjo7 I’ll make sure I talk about this in a future video! Remind me in the comments if I forget. They may still be trying to figure out how they want to tackle the SoCal market now that both parks are under the same ownership. There are also some easy growth opportunities for the seasonal markets and I would imagine Tim Fisher is doing a similar “expense” review of Magic Mountain’s many coasters similar to Great Adventure. MM may slim down a bit and rightsize/improve operations before something really, really major gets added again. It’s a park that should probably be doing 2X attendance. Knott’s on the other hand I think is likely so heavily Season Pass driven that its X million attendees are likely 1/3 or 1/4 that in unique visitors where as for a seasonal park like Cedar Point that might be like 1/5 or 1/6. What that means is the value of each attendee for Knott’s may actually be way less than 1 additional attendee at a Cedar Point or a Great Adventure, especially when you start adding in things like parking which is usually included with a lot of Season Passes. We’ll dive into it more! Knott’s is one of my favorite places on Earth and you’re right, that park deserves the best!

[@adtrf1]

I am Brooklyn/ bushwick based and would have loved to have something like that so nearby in the Bronx. Im about to build my dream PC2 BK Park build

[@chrismercaldo]

Brooklyn! So close to where I grew up! And agree, Freedomland USA "in our backyard" is hard to believe. Once you build the park send me a link or take a video overview, would love to see it!

[@Starlit43]

So I guess it wasn’t B&M giga lol. Here’s what I think they’re going to do. They did surveys I think it was like a few months ago. Great adventure had an option for a 400FT tower that would be for a Mach extreme spinning coaster. I think they want to replace an Icon with a new Icon that’s around the same height. But I have two problems with it. Number 1 being capacity once again. The past 3 coasters they have gotten don’t have good capacity. Especially now that you’re replacing Ka and the lines will be horrible. The other thing is the layout. If it’s just a tower and one element then the ride is going to feel underwhelming. Why Kingda Ka worked while being short in ride time was simple. The incredible hydraulic launch. That carried the ride. Lsms aren’t going to do that and we are already getting flash that is a shuttle coaster. We don’t need another one the year after. Since they took out Green Lantern I was thinking they would use that space as a part of this new coaster but I’m not sure. They might have new plans for the boardwalk.

[@chrismercaldo]

@@Starlit43 I think it might be the world’s first launched B&M Giga.

[@alexalbin1187]

Hahahaha good video man. I mean, I love the history of parks and talking about the stuff I saw and experienced as a kid. I see a lot of people taking about the investments and just worrying about rides, but there is so much more that needs attention, especially with six flags parks. They did say they are putting 80 million towards food and beverage, which is badly needed. And staffing/ operations is also lacking. So much to talk about with this. Thanks for the video! So much for a short video at 1 am 🤣

[@chrismercaldo]

Right?! “I’m going to go to bed soon…” proceeds to talk for an hour! Can you tell I love this stuff? You’re spot on. Investments HAVE to be beyond rides. Rides are important, arguably the biggest attendance driver, but F&B, entertainment, landscaping, infrastructure and general maintenance, etc. drive the experience, repeatability, length of stay, word of mouth marketing because you had such a good time, etc.

[@alexalbin1187]

@ Exactly my thoughts, thank you talking about more than just the usual same old conversation about the rides. I mean that’s the main reason why we go, but the overall experience is what will make or break you coming back. Like I’ve seen so many people say they will never go back to a six flags park because of horrible restaurant experiences and bad customer service. I’ve never experienced that, but I don’t put my self in middle of the summer weekend visits either. Thanks again for chatting! My wife gets sick of talking about it with me 🤣

[@chrismercaldo]

@@alexalbin1187 Ha! We can talk about it any time! Again, any topics or anything you want me to cover on here or that you want to hear more about just say so and I’ll always do my best to cover it

[@MrRaymage]

Cool to see a fellow Long Islander. I live in Connecticut now, but I went to Adventureland as a kid in the 80's. One of my fondest memories was riding the Gravitron. It was new at the time and they would play loud rock and pop music while you rode and the lights inside gave it a night club/disco vibe. Years later, the lighting wasn't working and the wow factor decreased. I feel like many parks don't keep up the maintenance of the effects or theme and Six Flags is no exception. Perhaps a topic of a future video. Your knowledge, vibe and professionalism are impressive, best of luck!

[@chrismercaldo]

Mr. Ray! Thanks so much for the kind words here! Strong Island proud! I’ve heard similar things about the Adventureland Gravitron being great early on. I actually wrote the history book on Adventureland; I’ll dig up the vintage pics I have and do a walkthrough on here! Gravitron is in there!

[@MrRaymage]

@chrismercaldo Cool! I just ordered the book on Amazon. I love books on history. Formerly of Valley Stream and Levittown ✌️

[@chrismercaldo]

@ That’s so cool, thank you so much for buying the book! I hope you enjoy it, it covers the first 50 years of the park from 1962 to 2012/2013. No way! My dad once owned a small mom & pop pharmacy in Valley Stream (he was the pharmacist) and I was raised in Wantagh. My library and school district were both Levittown!

[@Themeparkanxiety]

You're great. Immediate subscribe!

[@chrismercaldo]

Themeparkanxiety! Thank you so much! Any particular topics you'd like to hear about? Could be for anything in entertainment... movies, parks, content, toys, etc.

[@Themeparkanxiety]

@chrismercaldo I love your stories of your experience in the industry. It gives rare insight into the how's and why's of their thinking when making decisions

[@chrismercaldo]

@@Themeparkanxiety I'll definitely keep them coming! I think you'll love the one I do covering the Monster Jam project I worked on trying to get the Monster Jam IP specifically into the Cedar Fair parks. And thank you for the kind words!! Any time there's a specific topic you want to hear more about, just let me know here in the comments!

[@Themeparkanxiety]

@ absolutely. Listening to you talk is fascinating . You have a gift

[@chrismercaldo]

@@Themeparkanxiety Thank you so much!! This is a very nice thing to say (and hear). Like I said, I'll keep these coming!

[@restlessbohemian26]

Love your channel. Hope you show off some of your cards.

[@chrismercaldo]

Thank you so much, will do!

[@adtrf1]

I'm in a wheelchair and I'm a roller coaster enthusiast. The idea of being caught out in the rain anywhere is horrible for me in my chair. Shelter is completely needed

[@chrismercaldo]

General shelter throughout these parks and indoor attractions are both sorely missing throughout a lot of regional parks, particularly the SF/CF parks. The CF parks have gotten a little better with it over the last 10-15 years, but the SF parks have been on a dramatic decline for the last 40 years. Would love to see more ADA Accessible attractions as well! That was something we were hyper-focused on for when we built the Monster Jam Ride Trucks for the Monster Jam Thunder Alley experience... both were brand new builds built ADA accessible/compliant and we had a lift to the platform! We can definitely talk about that in the videos.

[@adtrf1]

@@chrismercaldo love that. Had really great experience w/local parks (Luna/Deno’s) getting on the coasters, wheel, and horror house was surprisingly doable. Vekoma harness are surprisingly supportive of my torso-phoenix at least. I have torso control but it’s just not what it used to be pre-injury. ||Flat rides really need to have more ramps and accessible boarding. ||Haven’t been to any regional parks yet but have been chatting w/hershey to prep. And they seem to be pretty accommodating. Have to get on Storm Runner before there are no hydronic launch coasters US installations are left. By The Way if you ever work with a team who needs an ADA consultant i have plenty of **cough** lived experience.

[@Airtimeparks]

Wow she really blamed you for something you didn’t do. But honestly I never understood the problem with having some mistakes. Like it’s not a big deal but they want everything to be “proper”. I give you a lot of credit for what you do. Seems like there’s a lot pressure with getting stuff done, meetings, presentations, etc. I could never do presenting since I don’t like everyone looking at me with all the attention. I’m much more of just a simple job type of person.

[@chrismercaldo]

@@Airtimeparks Yeah, it was a disappointing moment for sure and for me completely changed our relationship. At that point, she would have seen a few of my decks and the quality of them versus whatever hodgepodge this thing was that got shared and presented. Was a bummer for sure! There’s nothing wrong with simple jobs! And thank you for the credit/acknowledgment; definitely a busy life and career I’ve chosen but I do love it. I’ll try to use some of my old pitch/concept decks and walk you through them on here. PowerPoint can be such a powerful tool when it’s used for tell a good story or try to convince someone to take action.